Psychological distress among patients with breast cancer is common and is linked to worse clinical outcomes. Depressive and anxiety symptoms affect up to 40% of breast cancer patients, and depression is associated with a higher relative risk of mortality in individuals with breast cancer. Psychotropic medications and psychotherapy used to treat depression in patients without carcinoma also are appropriate and effective for breast cancer patients. However, some patients present distinct challenges to standard treatment. For example, growing evidence suggests that some selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may reduce the effectiveness of tamoxifen, a chemotherapeutic agent. This article discusses challenges in diagnosing and treating depression in breast cancer patients and reviews evidence supporting appropriate psychiatric care.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Discuss Current Psychiatry articles on www.facebook.com/CurrentPsychiatry
To read and participate in discussions of articles in Current Psychiatry, visit http://www.facebook.com/CurrentPsychiatry.
This site features discussions of articles from the April 2011 issue and earlier.
For free full-text access to all articles in Current Psychiatry visit http://www.currentpsychiatry.com.

CURRENT PSYCHIATRY reaches approximately 40,000 practicing psychiatrists, residents, advanced practice nurses, and faculty members in office, clinic, and hospital settings. Our mission is to provide psychiatrists with peer-reviewed, practical advice by leading authorities, emphasizing up-to-date solutions to common clinical problems.